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Youth Education & Improvement Grants
A Funding Program of the City
of San José Go Green Schools and Youth Watershed Education Programs
Goal and Purpose of the Grants
Go Green Schools Grants
The goal of the San José Go Green Schools Grants Program is to promote environmental stewardship in the current student generation. Grants are intended to foster school-wide and in- classroom recycling and other environmental actions and environmental education. This program was established in 2006 to encourage environmental practices and programs involving students, parents, teachers, principals, custodians and district level administrators in San José K-12 public and private schools. It is intended that these grants help establish, maintain or expand on-campus recycling or composting programs or other sustainable environmental programs. Grants are intended for projects that work directly with and benefit K-12 students. Grants are not intended for school facility upgrades or equipment for water or energy conservation. Financial assistance is available for those needs from other sources.
Youth Watershed Education Grants
Youth Watershed Education Grants are designed to promote understanding and stewardship of the Santa Clara Basin Watershed among South Bay youth (in grades K-12) by supporting innovative projects for youth education, curriculum development, adoption and implementation of published watershed-based curricula, and teacher/youth leader training. Project development should address at least one of the following key concepts: watershed protection, wastewater treatment, or South Bay water conservation. The goals of the Youth Watershed Education Grants Program are to provide educators and youth leaders with resources to pursue age-appropriate, watershed educational activities that encourage hands-on, interdisciplinary learning; to foster creative and self-sustaining pilot projects that can later be shared and replicated by a wider audience of youth educators; and to encourage partnerships and collaborations among existing organizations that promote stewardship of the Santa Clara Basin Watershed.
Solar Schools Scholarships
San José
Solar Program Scholarships are intended to provide K-12 educators with the tools needed to integrate the concepts of renewable energy and passive solar design into their existing curriculum while aligning to California science standards. Recipients of these scholarships will receive 8 hours of instruction and materials that will enable them to implement innovative hands on energy activities in their classrooms. These training workshops will provide teachers with the most up-to-date information on all aspects of solar energy, including the science of energy, sources of energy, and the environmental impacts and solutions associated with traditional energy use. Teachers will then develop with their student’s projects that promote clean energy education and use at their school and in the community; these projects will be presented at a Solar Fair in the spring at San José City Hall. Schools and school districts are encouraged to include up to 20 teachers in each Solar Schools training workshops so that teachers can develop multiple projects per institution.
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Eligible Projects/Examples
- Innovative classroom projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship
- Environmental action projects for youth
- Environmental education curriculum implementation (existing or new), including interdisciplinary approaches
- Environmental education training for educators (K-12) or youth activity leaders
- Hands-on experience and involvement with the environment as related to curricular activities, such as field trips to local creeks or wetlands, assemblies, and presentations
- Supplies and equipment to promote recycling and other environmental programs on campus (e.g. digital camcorders or cameras to create environmental films promoting recycling or other green practices)
- Production of an environmental short film (5 minutes or under) with purchase of video equipment and supplies; production must be student-led, student-written, student-directed, and student-produced
- Supplies and equipment designed for reuse and waste reduction (e.g. refillable water bottles and reusable lunch containers)
- Reusable promotional items made of recycled materials (e.g. posters, caps, tee-shirts, water bottles, mugs, school supplies, magnets, and reusable lunch equipment)
- Student, teacher, custodian, school administrator and parent award items and award event supplies to recognize individuals or groups who were part of the program’s success
- Materials for the construction, planting, and/or maintenance of school gardens including composting, edible landscape, tree plantings, and native, drought tolerant, or non-invasive bulbs and plants
- Litter removal projects
- Projects involving two or three schools working collaboratively to cross-mentor each other in green practices
- Solar School Scholarships will include educational training for educators (K-12). Teachers will then apply concepts learned to hands on activities with their classes. These may include but are not limited to the construction and presentation of model renewable energy communities; the development of solar cars; the development of solar ovens; the development of student presentations on energy to other students or the community and documented in a short film format.
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Projects that will not be funded
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Purchase of supplies or equipment not related to proposal objectives
- Costs of receptions
- Events where fund-raising is a primary purpose
- Deficit or debt reduction efforts
- Ongoing operational costs
- Project components already fully supported by other programs
- Funding to individuals
- Program activities affiliated with a sectarian organization
- Program activities for youth outside the San José/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant Tributary Service Area (San José, Santa Clara, Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, and Saratoga)
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How much funding is available for each project?
Grants and scholarships can range from $500.00 to $5,000.00. Please make sure that the amount you request is appropriate for the prject you describe. Projects that demonstrate a clear correlation to the stated goals of each grant/scholarship program will be given a funding priority. If awarded, your application may receive partial funding, not the total amount requested.
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Who is eligible to apply for a grant/scholarship?
The applicant/project manager must be affiliated with a school or a charitable, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization (e.g., PTA or educational foundation) serving youth in greades K-12 within the cities of San Jose, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Saratoga, or Monte Sereno. 501(c)3 community based organizations that serve K-12 students within these cities are also eligible to apply. (501(c)3 status is required for funding). No paid contractors, or other paid employment or contractual services are eligible.
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What is the funding cycle?
Funds will be available upon grant/scholarship award. The funding period is from presentation of the award, November 20, 2009 through August 30, 2010. If the project needs to extend through the summer, awarded funds may be used for this purpose. Solar scholarship awardees must attend a solar training workshop, develop a class project and present it at the City's Solar Fair by May, 2010. Any unused funds will need to be repaid to the City of San José no later than August 30, 2010.
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What is the deadline for applying?
Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on October 15, 2009. You are encouraged to transmit your application well before the deadline. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE REVIEWED OR CONSIDERED FOR AWARD.
Applications Due By |
Awards Announce By |
Project Begins By |
Project Ends By* |
October 15, 2009 |
November 20, 2009 |
January 1, 2010 |
August 30, 2010 |
*Solar scholarship activities must be completed by May 2010. |
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How do I apply? Who do I contact with questions of for more information?
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARD. DO NOT SEND A PRINT APPLICATION BY U.S. MAIL OR VIA EMAIL. Complete the designated online application form. You may want to print a copy of your application for your personal records. Upon successful submission of your application, you will receive a confirmation email within two business days. Further, it is the responsibility of the applicant, prior to the Application due date and time, to verify successful transmission. If you do not have internet access, please contact the Go Green Schools program to make alternative arrangements for submitting your grant application.
You are strongly encouraged to attend one of our grant writing workshops on either Saturday, September 26 or Wednesday, September 30, 2009 from 3:30-5:00 pm. These workshops will also be an opportunity for staff to review your grant application and provide feedback. Attendance is NOT mandatory in order to apply for a grant, but you will receive 5 points toward your total.
For more information or questions please contact:
City of San José Youth Education & Improvement Project Grants Program
Environmental Services Department
200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower 10th Floor
San José, CA 95113
sjgreenschools@sanjoseca.gov
408-975-2533
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How will grant/scholarship awards be decided?
The Grant Award Team will review the application for applicant eligibility, appropriatemness of project funding amount request, and the degree to which the project meets one or more of the following funding criteria:
- Project can be completed within timeframe specified by the grant cycle
- Degree that the project is sustainable for years beyond the grant cycle
- Level of qualifications, expertise, and experience of identified key personnel in areas relevant to the proposed work
- Probability that the project will significantly increase environmental stewardship activities
- Degree that Applicant's approach develops and strenghtens a fundable environmental program
- Quality, breadth, potential effectiveness, and long term impact of the specific activities proposed by the Applicant
- Ability of the project to directly connect children with nature
- Ability of the project to implement environmental education curriculum
- Degree that Applicant's approach implements environmental practices and education
- Ability to promote partnerships with other area schools and/or environmental organizations for environmental purposes
- Ability to promote sustainable energy concepts and benefits to students, educational institutions, schools districts and the greater community
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What are the reporting requirements?
Grant/scholarship recipients will be required to submit two reports, one mid-way through the project (due the last Friday in March) and a final report (due the last Friday in July). The mid-year report should be no more than one page and summarizes the progress of the project to date as well as includes a timeline for the remainder of the project. The final report should discuss the outcome of the grant project and a summary of grant award expenditures incurred.
Note that Solar Schools scholarship recipients will be required to submit two reports, one the last Friday in February and a final report due the last Friday in May. The first report should be no more than two pages and summarizes what the teacher gained from their solar workshop training and describes the scope of the class project they are developing with their students. The final report should discuss the outcome of the project, their students experience at the solar fair and how they will continue to implement renewable energy concepts to future students.
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